Military
6
On May 5-6, 1864, Union troops manned trenches here until Gordon attacked from the north, on the left, and the Federals abandoned them, falling back to a new position one mile ahead and to the right. Confederate troops then advanced and occupied the empty entrenchments, rebuilding them to face the opposite direction. Later they built a new line of works running perpendicular to this line and parallel to the Culpeper Mine Road. Both armies then rested uneasily behind their earthworks throughout May 7 while fires ignited by the fighting swept through the woods. Although the Battle of the Wilderness caused nearly 30,000 casualties, it was only the first step on the long road to Appomattox.
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Lake of the Woods, Virginia · United States
